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BA in Globalization Studies and International Relations (GLI)

BA in Global Studies

The Globalization Studies and International Relations BA is a new interdisciplinary program that combines academic perspectives from the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering to study, research, and create knowledge on globalization and trans-regional issues. The program’s central objects of study are the emerging changes wrought to human communities by both historic and on-going processes of globalization. Globalization has brought a new level of complexity to traditional issues emerging from the interaction of human groups, cultural traditions, the environment, law, the economy and technology. This complexity has changed both the character of those traditional challenges and also enabled new potential solutions to them. The curriculum in this major encourages students to become critical examiners and engaged researchers of these interactions by focusing on global flows of commodities, traditions, diseases, knowledge, technologies, and people. Students will also focus on how these flows impact existing social, economic, and political inequalities.

As part of the BA, students complete a set of core courses that each combine theoretical and experiential components. Each student will choose a specific Global Interaction Area and a specialized Global Issues track. These will become the students’ areas and issues of expertise as they tackle the complex set of phenomena associated with globalization. Students are strongly encouraged to either participate in a semester Study Abroad program or to complete a semester-long internship in an institution, business, or government agency that engages directly with the student’s area and issues of specialization. 

The Globalization Studies and International Relations BA prepares future leaders in global policy-making, international service, diplomacy, and activism. The program will also prepare students to pursue graduate study in a wide variety of fields, from diplomacy and consulting to research journalism and social entrepreneurship.    

For more information, contact the Undergraduate Advisor of the Globalization Studies and International Relations Program, Jeremy Marchese at jeremy.marchese@stonybrook.edu.

Click here for our GLI Courses List , and look for available GLI electives offered at SBU in Spring 2025. Also, check the pages of the GLI program on the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Degrees and Requirements

Requirements for the Major and Minor in Globalization Studies and International Relations (GLI)

Requirements for the Major in Globalization Studies and International Relations (GLI) 

  • The major in Globalization Studies and International Relations leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree.
  • Completion of the major requires 36-45 credits (depending on language competency possessed at start of Program).
  • All core courses must be taken at Stony Brook University.
  • All courses required for the Minor must be passed with a letter grade of C or better.

GLI Major Checklist

Required Courses 

1. Foundation Courses (15 credits)

GLI 211 Perspectives in Globalization Studies and International Relations
GLI 320 Global Cultural and Environmental Issues
GLI 330 Global Political, Economic Issues
GLI 340 Cross-Cultural Mediation and Conflict Resolution
GLI 450 Capstone Senior Seminar

 2. Language Study (9 credits): 9 credits above the 100 level, or demonstrated advanced competency, in one language other than English.

 3. Global Areas and Global Issues (21 credits)

a. Global Interaction Areas (9 credits: 3 at the 100/200 level, 6 credits taken in upper division courses [300-400 level]). Choice of specific courses is made through consultation with the program advisor. 

Areas to be defined by student in consultation with the program advisor. These areas should be defined according to specific global flows and historic interrelations rather than as traditional geographical areas.

Some examples of these Global Interaction Areas (see Global Interaction Areas below for courses): 

Pacific Rim (East-Asia, South-East Asia, East Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Western Americas)
Indian Ocean world (South East Asia, South Asia, Australia, East Africa)
Transatlantic (West Africa, Western Europe, North and South America)
Mediterranean (Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Middle East)
Eurasia (Central Asia, Europe)
Americas (North and South America, Caribbean)
Global Africa (Africa and African diaspora)
Larger Middle East (North-Eastern Africa, Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, Arabian Gulf)

b. Specialized Global Issues (12 credits: 6 at the 100 and 200 levels, 6 at the 300 and 400 levels)

Choice of one of six clusters of coursework organized around a set of interrelated issues (see  Global Issues below for courses).

Global Cities: Challenges and Realities of Accelerating Urbanization Processes
Human, Cultural, and Biological Migration: Global Diasporas and Ethnicities
Global Development and Sustainability: Environment, Well-Being, Economy, and Policy
Cultural and Political Representation: Global Narratives, Global Policies and their modes of dissemination
Inequalities: Gender, Race, Class and Disability in a Global Context
Transnational Corporations, Trans-regional Institutions: Markets, Institutions, and Policies

Requirements for the Minor in Globalization Studies and International Relations

The Globalization Studies and International Relations Minor provides a focused view of globalizing processes through the critical examination of a variety of disciplinary perspectives of the world's institutions, ideas, cultures, and historical traditions. Students develop the ability to examine the global and local repercussions of current social, cultural, political, and economic developments in the world by applying a combination of methods from the sciences, humanities, and social sciences. The curriculum encourages students to become engaged researchers in the global flows of commodities, ideas and people, and their impact over existing social, economic, and political inequalities. 

The Minor is open to all undergraduates regardless of academic Major or place of residence. As part of the Minor students will choose a Global Interaction Area and a Specialized Global Issue Track. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in study abroad programs. With the approval of the Program Advisor, credits earned for courses taken abroad may count toward fulfillment of the minor. In addition, the Minor is part of the Institute for Globalization Studies (IGS). Students are encouraged to actively participate in enrichment opportunities offered by the Institute.  

Declaration of the Minor

The Globalization Studies and International Relations Minor takes approximately 4 semesters (fall/spring) to complete. Students are encouraged to declare the Minor before the start of their sophomore year but no later than the first semester of their junior year depending on the target date of graduation. Students should consult with the program advisor as soon as possible and plan their course of study for fulfillment of the requirements. 

General GLI Minor Requirements
  • Completion of the Minor requires 21-24 credits (depending on language competency possessed at start of Program).
  • All core courses must be taken at Stony Brook University.
  • All courses required for the Minor must be passed with a letter grade of C or better. 

GLI Minor Checklist

Course Requirements for the Minor 

1. Foundation Courses (9 credits)

a. GLI 211 Perspectives in Globalization Studies and International Relations  

b. Two courses chosen from the following:

GLI 320 Global Cultural and Environmental Issues
GLI 330 Global Political, Economic Issues
GLI 340 Conflict Resolution, Coalition Building, and Peacemaking 

2. Two courses in a Global Interaction Area (6 credits: 3 credits at the 100/200 level, 3 credits taken at the 300 level). Areas must be defined in consultation with the Program Advisor and according to specific global flows and historic interrelations rather than as traditional geographical areas.

Some examples of these Global Interaction Areas (see Global Interaction Areas):

Pacific Rim (East-Asia, East Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Western Americas)
Indian Ocean world (South East Asia, Australia,
Transatlantic (West Africa, Western Europe, North and South America)
Mediterranean (Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Middle East)
Eurasia (Central Asia, Europe)
Americas (North and South America, Caribbean)
Global Africa (Africa and African diaspora)
Larger Middle East (North-Eastern Africa, Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean) 

3. Two courses on a Specialized Global Issue (see Global Issue Tracks; 6 credits: 3 credits at the 100/200 level, 3 credits taken at the 300 level):

Global Cities: Challenges and Realities of Accelerating Urbanization Processes
Human, Cultural, and Biological Migration: Global Diasporas and Ethnicities
Global Development and Sustainability: Environment, Well-Being, Economy, and Policy
Cultural and Political Representation: Global Narratives, Global Policies and their modes of dissemination
Colonial and Post-Colonial Globalizations: Gender, Race, and Class in a Global Context.
Transnational Corporations, Trans-regional Institutions: Markets, Institutions, and Policies

4. Language Study (3 credits)

3 credits above the 100 level (or demonstrated equivalent competency) in one language other than English.

Global Interaction Areas and Specialized Global Issues

The electives listed in the sections below can be used for the creation of relevant clusters. More courses may be considered, subject to the approval of the Program advisor.

A. Global Interaction Areas

AFRICA AND AFRICAN DIASPORA 

  • AFH 329/HUF 318Pan-African Literature I
  • AFH 330Pan-African Literature II
  • AFS 221Introduction to Modern African History
  • AFS 306 Gender and Public Health in Africa
  • AFS 319The Politics of Race
  • AFS 340Human Rights and Africa
  • AFS 368/HIS 368Health and Disease in African History
  • AFS 374Environment and Development in African History
  • AFS 383The Global African Diaspora in Comparative Perspective
  • ANT 250African Cultures Today
  • ARH 328 Exhibiting Africa
  • ARH 329 Arts of the African Diaspora
  • HIS 221 Introduction to Modern African History
  • HIS 346 Political and Social History of Africa
  • HIS 350 Topics in African History
  • HIS 369Religion and Politics in Africa
  • POL 337 The Politics of Africa
  • SOC 365 Global Africa

 ASIA

  • AAS 201Introduction to the Civilization of the Indian Subcontinent
  • AAS 216Introduction to Japanese Studies
  • AAS 300Intellectual History of East Asia
  • AAS 305The Pacific, Travel & Empire
  • AAS 330 Language and Society in South Asia
  • AAS 352 Environmental History of China
  • AAS 379 Ethnicity and Ecology in China
  • AAS 440 Inter-Asia Cultural Studies
  • ARH 203 Arts of Asia
  • HIS 227Islamic Civilization & Muslim Societies
  • HIS 307Silk Roads and Spice Routes: Travel, Exploration and Discovery in the Premodern World
  • HIS 332Postcolonial South Asia
  • HIS 340 Topics in Asian History
  • HIS 348Colonial South Asia
  • JPN 331 Social Sciences Topics in Japanese Studies
  • JPN 332 Humanities Topic in Japanese Studies
  • KOR 331 Social Science Topics in Korean Studies
  • KOR 332 Humanities Topics in Korean Studies
  • RUS 300- and 400-level courses

EUROPE

  • FRN 300- and 400-level courses
  • GER 300- and 400-level courses
  • HIS 101 Ancient Mesopotamia to Early Modern Europe
  • HIS 102 Modern European History, 18th c. to the Present
  • HIS 248 Modern Europe, 1815-1914
  • HIS 249 Modern Europe, 1914-1945
  • HIS 250 The Second World War, 1939-1945
  • HIS 251 Europe Since 1945
  • HIS 334 Women and Gender in Pre-Modern European History
  • HIS 360 Changing Families: US History to 1860
  • HIS 391 Topics in Ancient and Medieval Europe
  • HIS 392 Topics in Early Modern Europe
  • HIS 393 Topics in Modern European History
  • HUF 216 French Civilization through the Ages
  • HUF 219 Modern France
  • HUG 229 Germany Today
  • HUI 216 Italian Civilization Through the Ages
  • HUS 255 Modern Spain
  • ITL 300- and 400-level courses
  • POL 309 Politics in the European Union
  • RUS 300- and 400-level courses
  • SPN 415 Hispanic Cultures in Contact
  • SPN 300- and 400-level courses

THE AMERICAS

  • AFH 339/ARH 329 Arts of the African Diaspora 
  • AFH 368 Caribbean and American Connections in Literature
  • ANT 380/AFS 380 Race and Ethnicity in Latin America and the Caribbean
  • HIS 213 Colonial Latin America
  • HIS 214 Modern Latin America
  • HIS 216 History of U.S.-Latin American Relations
  • HIS 380 Topics in Latin-American History
  • HUS 254 Latin America Today
  • HUS 261 Latin American Literature in a Global Context
  • HUS 290 Latin American Cinema
  • LAC 200 Introduction to Latin American and Caribbean Societies
  • POL 214 Modern Latin America
  • POL 216 History of U.S.-Latin American Relations
  • SOC 364 Sociology of Latin America
  • SPN 300 and 400 level courses

MIDDLE EAST: NORTH AFRICA AND SOUTH-WEST ASIA

  • ARH 317 Islamic Art
  • HIS 227Islamic Civilization & Muslim Societies
  • HIS 307 Silk Roads and Spice Routes: Travel, Exploration and Discovery in the Premodern World
  • SOC 386 State and Society in the Middle East

B. Global Issues Tracks 

HUMAN, CULTURAL, AND BIOLOGICAL MIGRATION: GLOBAL DIASPORAS AND ETHNICITIES 

  • AAS 305The Pacific, Travel & Empire
  • AFH 339/ARH 329 Arts of the African Diaspora
  • AFS 221Introduction to Modern African History
  • AFS 383The Global African Diaspora in Comparative Perspective
  • ANT 250African Cultures Today
  • EGL 249 African-American Literature and Music in the 19th and 20th Centuries
  • EGL 274 Black American Literature
  • HIS 307 Silk Roads and Spice Routes: Travel, Exploration and Discovery in the Premodern World
  • HIS 397 Topics in History of US Immigration and Ethnicity
  • HUS 271 United States Latino Literature and Culture
  • POL 310 Immigration and Refugee Politics 

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY: ENVIRONMENT, WELL-BEING, ECONOMY, AND POLICY 

  • AFS 306Gender and Public Health in Africa
  • AFS 368/HIS 368Health and Disease in African History
  • AFS 374Environment and Development in African History
  • ANP 360 Primate Conservation
  • ANT 350 Medical Anthropology
  • ATM 201 Introduction to Climate and Climate Change
  • ATM 237 World Climate and Atmosphere
  • ATM 305 Global Atmospheric Change
  • ATM 397 Air Pollution and Its Control
  • BIO 103 Introduction to Biotechnology
  • BIO 113 General Ecology
  • BIO 353 Marine Ecology
  • BIO 385 Plant Ecology
  • BIO 386 / ENS 311 Ecosystem Ecology and the Global Environment
  • ENS 101 Prospects for Planet Earth
  • ENS 301 Contemporary Environmental Issues and Policies
  • ENS 312 Population, Technology, and the Environment
  • ENV 304 Global Environmental Change
  • EST 102 Weather and Climate
  • EST 201 Technological Trends in Society
  • EST 291 Energy, Environment, and People
  • EST 330 Natural Disasters: Societal Impacts and Technological Solutions
  • GEO 101 Environmental Geology
  • GEO 104 Ripples across the World: Global Effects of Natural Disasters
  • GEO 105Energy Resources for the 21st Century
  • GEO 311 Geoscience and Global Concerns
  • HIS 286 The Global History of Human Health
  • HIS 302 Environmental History in Global Perspective
  • MAR 315 Marine Conservation
  • MAR 340 Environmental Problems and Solutions
  • MAR 394 Environmental Toxicology and Public Health
  • MEC 280 Pollution and Human Health
  • PHI 366 Philosophy and the Environment
  • PHY 237 World Climate and Atmosphere
  • SOC 344 Environmental Sociology
  • SUS 343 Age of the Anthropocene

CULTURAL AND POLITICAL REPRESENTATION: ART AND MEDIA IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT 

INEQUALITIES: GENDER, RACE, AND CLASS IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT 

  • AAS 250 Languages and Cultures of Asian Americans
  • AFH 206 Great Books of the Black Experience
  • AFH 249 African-American Literature and Music in the 19th and 20th Centuries
  • AFH 339 / ARH 329 Arts of the African Diaspora
  • AFH 368/EGL 368 Caribbean and American Connections in Literature
  • AFS 319 The Politics of Race
  • AFS 340 Human Rights and Africa
  • ANT 102 What Makes Us Human?
  • ANT 230 Peoples of the World
  • CCS 301 Cinema and Media Theory
  • CLT 220 Literature Beyond European Traditions
  • CLT 221 Cross-Cultural Encounters
  • EGL 249 African-American Literature and Music in the 19th and 20th Centuries
  • EGL 274 African-American Literature
  • EGL 276 / WST 276 Feminism: Literature and Cultural Contexts
  • EGL 369 Topics in Ethnic American Literatures and Cultures
  • EGL 376 The Literature of Imperialism
  • HIS 332 Postcolonial South Asia
  • HIS 348Colonial South Asia
  • HIS 397 Topics in History of US Immigration and Ethnicity
  • MUS 304 American Music
  • WST 301 Histories of Feminism
  • WST 395 Topics in Global Feminism 

TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND TRANSREGIONAL INSTITUTIONS: MARKETS, INSTITUTIONS, AND POLICIES 

  • AAS 379 Ethnicity and Ecology in China
  • AFH 379 / PHI 379 Philosophy of Race
  • AFS 221 Introduction to Modern African History
  • AFS 319 The Politics of Race
  • AFS 337 Politics of Africa
  • AFS 345 Culture and Gender: Women in Africa and the Caribbean
  • AFS 346 Political and Social History of Africa
  • AFS 350 Black Women and Social Change: A Cross-Cultural Perspective
  • AFS 365 Global Africa
  • CSE 301 History of Computing
  • ECO 325 International Economics
  • EST 201 Technological Trends in Society
  • HIS 281 Global History and Geography
  • HIS 300 Topics in Global History
  • HIS 307 Silk Roads and Spice Routes: Travel, Exploration and Discovery in the Premodern World
  • HIS 332 Postcolonial South Asia
  • HIS 348 Colonial South Asia
  • HIS 381 Global Commodity Histories, 1500-2000
  • HIS 397 Topics in History of US Immigration and Ethnicity 
  • PHI 367 Philosophy of War and Peace
  • PHI 377 Contemporary Political Philosophy
  • POL 103 Introduction to Comparative Politics
  • POL 311 Introduction to International Law
  • POL 313 Problems of International Relations
  • POL 374 / SOC 374 Global Issues in the United Nations
  • SOC 105 Introduction to Sociology
  • SOC 248 Social Problems in Global Perspective
  • SOC 348 Global Sociology